138: Steady Wizard

"I'm guessing, just my guess."

"However, my guess is most likely true."

"The trump card that Blood Shark Wizard finally pulled out, that half-scroll of beast skin, is very likely a product from the Ancient Wizards era."

"Ah..."

Several people gasped in surprise.

"Why is that?"

"Two reasons: First, because that half-scroll of beast skin is incomplete. I was close enough to see the patterns on it clearly; only a small part was left."

"You tell me, if it were a product of the contemporary Wizard World, and it was so incomplete, what kind of Wizard Tool could still be effective, right?"

"So, I guess it's a masterpiece of the Ancient Wizards."

..."Hey, Glenn..."

"If its main framework and energy structure are intact, it's still possible; you just haven't seen it before."

Oakes retorted at this point.

"That's right, Glenn, there are many situations where half a Wizard Array can be useful. For example, our Botanical Garden has many Wizard Arrays used in such block-type applications."

Bigg also chimed in.

"Don't rush, there's a second reason."

"The wizardry on that beast skin scroll didn't draw external elemental blessings; it simply relied on its own stored power to reach the Formal Wizard level, exceeding 100 degrees. Think about it, what does that mean?"

"That's impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Textbooks all say that to achieve power above 100 degrees, one must break through a rule boundary and simultaneously trigger a large-scale elemental tide for blessing."

"This is completely unreasonable."

..."That's why I said it's a masterpiece of the Ancient Wizards."

"The reason we can't do it now is because our Wizard World is in a period of severe injury recovery, and many limiting rules have been set."

"However, Ancient Wizards were different; they were Black Wizards who could initiate inter-realm wars. There was nothing they couldn't do."

"Glenn, are you saying?"

"Exactly, these Black Wizards must have discovered a new ancient ruin. Blood Shark Wizard could only have found such an incredible item in an ancient ruin."

"Ah, then quickly report it to the academy! This is no small matter."

"If the Black Wizards explore an ancient ruin and their strength greatly increases, we'll be in trouble."

"Don't worry, I also know the seriousness of this matter."

"While I was still on the operating table, I had already reported this matter to the academy's higher-ups."

"So, you just need to know about this and keep it to yourselves. Matters like ancient ruins are not something people of our small stature can get involved with. Without the strength of a Formal Wizard, don't even dream of entering them to get rich overnight."

"Alas..."

"That's right, let's just treat it as an interesting anecdote, listen to it, and then forget it."

"Come on, let's keep drinking, Glenn, I toast you."

"Cheers..."

..."Glenn..."

"Your experience was quite thrilling."

"A newcomer on his first mission, he exposed a Black Wizard's conspiracy, commanded a large battle, then killed a Black Wizard, pursued a peak combatant, and even discovered clues to an ancient ruin..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, why does your experience feel so much like something an adventure knight from a storybook would go through?"

Oakes exclaimed:

"Glenn..."

"Next, are you going to accept the academy's commission to investigate the clues of the ancient ruin, then follow the trail, successfully discover the ancient ruin..."

"Then explore the ancient ruin, sweep away all Black Wizards, beat down all defiant enemies, inherit the legacy of the Ancient Wizards within it, successfully break through to Formal Wizard, and finally return home in glory with a beautiful woman..."

"Isn't that right? Hahahaha..."

..."Uh..."

Glenn silently touched his forehead, finding no fever.

Hmm, then Oakes must have a fever.

"Oakes, with your imagination, not writing storybooks is a real waste of talent."

"I suggest you change professions..."

"Apothecary doesn't suit you; a novelist is your true talent."

"I'm not planning to explore any ancient ruins."

"Even if the academy releases relevant missions, I won't go."

"The risk is simply too great. Even Formal Wizards might not come out unscathed, let alone a small fry like me who isn't even a Formal Wizard."

"You guys haven't grasped the essence of my steady approach to life."

"Being steady isn't just about avoiding risks, being afraid of risks, or staying cooped up in an absolutely safe Wizard Tower."

"Being steady means having risks under control. It's acceptable to take on some challenges within your capabilities."

..."Gulp gulp..."

Glenn chugged a large glass of rye ice beer in one go. It was refreshingly cold, invigorating, and only then did he feel satisfied.

He then explained:

"Oakes, Bigg, I've told you before that my life principle is to be steady."

"Take this anti-sniper mission, for example; I adhered to the principle of steadiness from beginning to end."

"From the start, fighting alongside the team to clear out Black Wizard cannon fodder, I, an Advanced Wizard Apprentice + peak Bloodline Great Knight, fought against a bunch of Black Wizards whose highest level was Intermediate Wizard Apprentice."

"You tell me, isn't that steady enough?"

"Hmm, indeed steady. I estimate that those Black Wizard cannon fodder definitely weren't as steady as you."

Oakes praised, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"In response to the Black Wizards' desperate counterattack, I racked my brain, preemptively imagined countless desperate measures the Black Wizards might take, and specifically implemented a three-layered life-saving method. I successfully used superior numbers, tiered deployment, and eliminated all Black Wizards at the cost of zero casualties."

"You tell me, isn't that steady enough?"

"Hmm, indeed steady. I estimate that those Black Wizards regretted it the moment they showed their heads and charged. You were too steady."

Adler empathized, and everyone nodded in unison..."The only mistake in this mission was during the pursuit of Blood Shark."

Glenn sighed, regretting:

"However, when Blood Shark Wizard pulled out his final trump card, I also decisively brought out my biggest trump card — activating the Guardian Wizard Array, which is invincible against anything below 100 degrees."

"This was the steadiest approach."

"It's just that no one would have expected Blood Shark Wizard to have a trump card with a Formal Wizard-level attack, and a masterpiece of the Ancient Wizards at that. I had no idea before he made his move."

"If it were a contemporary Wizarding World method, a Formal Wizard-level attack would definitely be incredibly grand in scale. I would be able to feel the surging elemental tide from ten miles away."

"In that case, I would definitely have run as far as possible. Only a fool would go face-to-face with him."

"You tell me, where was I not steady?"

..."Right, right, right..."

"Glenn, you are the steadiest."

"Come, let us all raise our glasses to our steadiest Glenn Wizard."

"Accidents are always unavoidable, don't take it too much to heart."

"May our friend Glenn continue to be steady, live long, and have everything go smoothly."

"Thank you, thank you, brothers..."

"I still have a month of vacation, what's there to be afraid of? Come, let's drink until we drop tonight!"

"I'm all in..."